Chapter Thirty-Three: The Dread Power of Rumor

Lin’an Street.

Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Su Qingmeng stood dazed at the foot of the building, cursing Li Yunjie inwardly for being incorrigible.

Li Yunjie, however, looked perfectly at ease, his expression unruffled.

“What are we doing here?” Su Qingmeng asked irritably.

“Publicity,” Li Yunjie replied solemnly.

“Publicity?”

“We’re investigating such a major case. Of course we need to publicize it!” Li Yunjie declared emphatically.

Su Qingmeng was perplexed.

This case had yet to receive imperial approval; to investigate so rashly was already a breach of protocol. Now he even wanted to make a spectacle of it!

If He Xumin got wind of this, he would surely do everything in his power to obstruct them. How could that possibly help solve the case?

Besides, was the Drunken Moon Pavilion really a place for such publicity?

She felt almost embarrassed to expose him!

Before Su Qingmeng could make sense of it, Li Yunjie stepped into the building.

Madam Qin was about to greet them, but Su Qingmeng shot her a glare, forcing her to retreat. It was obvious that this lady was not to be trifled with...

Li Yunjie casually found an empty seat and ordered some fine wine and dishes.

“Miss Qingmeng, perhaps you’re wondering—with so many places to choose from, why did I pick Drunken Moon Pavilion?” Li Yunjie noticed her face full of suspicion and prepared to enlighten her.

Su Qingmeng had no intention of responding and simply rolled her eyes.

Say what you like.

“Though Drunken Moon Pavilion is a place of pleasure, it is also the most well-informed location in all of the capital,” he explained. “Any news that breaks here will spread throughout the city within three days.”

As he finished, Li Yunjie swept his gaze around the room. “Almost time,” he murmured.

Then he turned to Su Qingmeng, cleared his throat, and loudly proclaimed, “This is no trivial matter!”

All eyes instantly turned to him.

“My good sir, what has startled you so?” a man upstairs called out.

A faint smile curved Li Yunjie’s lips. As expected, gossip is a human instinct!

“Haven’t you all heard?” Li Yunjie exclaimed theatrically. “The newly-appointed Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Lord Li, intends to re-investigate an old case from three years ago!”

“What’s so shocking about that?” the man instantly lost interest. “There are unsolved cases at the Court every year. What’s another old case being reopened?”

“My friend, you are mistaken!” Li Yunjie turned to him. “The case Lord Li is reopening is no unsolved mystery.”

“It’s a case that was personally concluded by Minister He of the Ministry of Justice!”

“The Ministry of Justice?” a man by the window asked sharply. “Are you saying that Lord Li believes Minister He made a wrongful judgment back then?”

The atmosphere immediately grew more animated, and a hungry curiosity filled the eyes of everyone present, eager for more scandal.

“This, I cannot say for certain,” Li Yunjie responded.

Whether He Xumin had erred in judgment or not, there was no definitive proof yet—one mustn’t speak too boldly.

“However, there were many doubts in this case at the time. I heard Lord Li say that he swore to get to the bottom of it!”

“So what case is it, exactly?”

Li Yunjie took a deep breath and announced, “It’s the case of the missing tax silver from Yongzhou three years ago!”

At these words, the crowd was stunned, and a buzz of whispers broke out.

After all, this was the notorious case that had caused a storm of bloodshed back then—hardly anyone present didn’t know of it.

Seeing this, Li Yunjie was secretly pleased; this was precisely the effect he wanted.

Su Qingmeng, however, frowned deeply, fully aware that Li Yunjie’s move would unleash a great upheaval.

Indeed, several people nearby were already leaving in haste, clearly to spread the word.

“What exactly do you hope to achieve by doing this?” Su Qingmeng asked gravely.

Li Yunjie remained composed, as though everything was under his control.

“By stirring up public opinion, I want He Xumin to see that reinvestigating the tax silver case is the tide of the times—he cannot stop it!”

Su Qingmeng was half-convinced, half-doubtful. “This matter was already settled. Can it really be overturned so easily?”

“And besides, He Xumin holds great power. The voices of ordinary people are feeble—how could they shake him?”

“It doesn’t matter whether he is swayed,” Li Yunjie said with a light sip of tea and a gentle smile. “As long as His Majesty is swayed, that’s enough.”

Su Qingmeng stared at Li Yunjie, who seemed so confident and inscrutable that she felt a sense of profound mystery from him.

...

It is said that gossip spreads like the plague—especially when it begins in the most well-informed place in the city, Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Within half a day, the events that transpired there had spread throughout every alley and marketplace.

As the news was passed from mouth to mouth, its details grew ever more fantastic, even monstrous.

At first, it was merely said that Lord Li was reopening an old case, but soon it became an internecine feud between the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice.

Some even claimed that Minister He Xumin was corrupt, embezzling the tax silver for himself!

Soon, these rumors stirred up a storm both among the people and within the palace.

Great Qian Imperial Palace.

Hall of Heaven and Earth.

At morning court, Emperor Qingyuan swept his eyes coldly over the assembly, finally settling on He Xumin. He spoke sternly, “Minister He, do you know what is being said among the people these days?”

He Xumin’s expression tightened as he stepped forward, holding his ivory tablet. “Your Majesty, there have indeed been some with ill intentions spreading rumors lately.”

“They say there was a grave injustice in the tax silver case from three years ago, and that it should be reinvestigated.”

“These baseless, reckless words are truly laughable.”

“Reckless speculation?” Emperor Qingyuan’s brow furrowed. “This Li Yunjie is quite talented at solving cases—why would he suddenly bring up old matters without cause?”

Since the Taohu Academy incident, Li Yunjie—once unremarkable—had begun to stand out.

With the support of Su Ming and Xu Changfeng, this young sleuth had firmly established himself in the emperor’s mind.

If anyone else had proposed reopening the case, Emperor Qingyuan might not have cared.

But since it was Li Yunjie, he could not help but take it more seriously.

“Your Majesty,” He Xumin replied respectfully, “perhaps I have somehow offended the Prince, leading him to target this old minister so.”

As he finished, He Xumin cast a sidelong glance at Zhao Heng.

Their gazes met, and Zhao Heng stepped forward, bowing deeply. “Your Majesty, as everyone knows, Prince Li has always been reckless in his conduct.”

“Now that he has married into the Su family and has Grand Councillor Su as his backing, no doubt he has grown even more arrogant!”

“To reopen an old case without evidence or basis—if every office in the capital did the same, wouldn’t the laws be thrown into chaos?”

Emperor Qingyuan pondered for a moment, then turned to Su Ming and asked gravely, “Grand Councillor Su, what do you think?”

Su Ming’s demeanor was calm as he bowed respectfully. “Your Majesty, this case concerns the tax silver.”

“In my humble opinion, it must be thoroughly investigated.”

“Grand Councillor Su, mind your words!” Zhao Heng interrupted. “If this sets a precedent, will Prince Li be allowed to reopen any case he deems unsatisfactory in the future?”

His eyes were sharp. “Such a trend must not be encouraged, or where would the law be? I urge Your Majesty to think carefully!”

“What if this case is linked to the Witches of the Northern Desert?” Su Ming replied sternly, his tone commanding and brooking no argument.

“To tell the truth, Your Majesty, I have privately questioned Prince Li.”

“According to him, this case may be connected to the recent deaths of the Imperial Guard in the capital.”

“And the Imperial Guard died of witchcraft!”

At these words, the hall fell into dead silence, the tension mounting.

Emperor Qingyuan’s brow knit tightly. “You mean to say, Grand Councillor Su, that the tax silver case may be the work of the Witches of the Northern Desert?”

“Precisely.”

The emperor considered for a long moment, then swept his gaze across the hall. “What are your thoughts on this matter?”

The officials exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to speak lightly.

At length, Wu Changjiang, Vice Minister of Revenue, stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, I believe His Highness the Crown Prince is absolutely right.”

“Furthermore, Prince Li is only speculating, without solid evidence. The law must be paramount—we cannot be lax!”

Emperor Qingyuan’s eyes showed a trace of surprise at Wu Changjiang’s intervention.

“Your Majesty, I believe this concerns the foundation of the nation—it must be investigated!” Xu Changfeng, head of the Court of Judicial Review, stepped forward resolutely.

At once, the court divided into two camps.

By numbers, those siding with Su Ming slightly outnumbered those with Zhao Heng.

“Your Majesty, the rumors are spreading wildly among the people,” Su Ming pressed his advantage. “If we do not get to the bottom of this, it will be difficult to appease public opinion!”

“As the saying goes, public opinion is a formidable thing!”

At these words, Emperor Qingyuan glanced at Zhao Heng, heaved a heavy sigh, and his gaze showed a trace of disappointed expectation.

“So be it. Deliver my decree: Vice Minister Li Yunjie of the Court of Judicial Review is hereby authorized to thoroughly investigate this case...”